The Waterloo Collection — An Anthology of Short Stories.

SUPERFICIALLY, The Battle of Waterloo, the 2011 Tavistock Music and Arts Festival, the restoration of an ancient farmhouse, a local computer business and the arcane art of short story writing would appear to have nothing in common.

Yet those buying 'The Waterloo Collection — An Anthology of Short Stories', will soon be well aware of the links which bind them — a union which has led to the creation of a riveting book in support of a worthwhile cause, the product of prodigious work, imagination and enterprise on the part of many people.

The eminent historian, the late professor Richard Holmes — who has written the introduction to the book —was chairman of 'Project Hougoumont', the restoration of an ancient farmhouse devastated by the fighting at Waterloo, the 200th anniversary of which falls in just four years time.

Appreciating the relevance of the battle to the history of Britain — to that of France and Europe, also — and the worthiness of the project, the organisers of the music and arts festival decided to support it by running a competition for short story writers, with selected work being incorporated into an anthology, proceeds from the sale of which would be donated to the cause.

Adult writers had to produce work of under 1,500 words while young contributors' stories could not exceed 800; the rewards were prizes for the best as decided by locally based judges, and, of course, the chance to have one's efforts published with the possibility of long term success to follow.

Clearly this was an ambitious and bold act of faith and courage on the part of the organisers, led by Myfanwy Cook and supported by local business, 'Games and Computers'.

However, the perusal of just a handful of pages of the book will convince the reader that such bravery has been rewarded handsomely. For it is of the highest standard in terms of both quality and production and of content.

There are 48 stories in all, penned by 37 adult and five young writers, plus a most moving poem, 'The Duchess of Richmond's Ball', the creation of Len A Hynds.

Many of the authors are resident in West Devon, but all, local or further afield, clearly have mastered the art of short story writing.

The tales are wide ranging, covering what was, arguably, the most significant battle of the entire nineteenth century in terms of the political and geographical history of Europe.

There is humour, hope, desire, numbing tragedy — even joy. The blistering cauldron of battle is reproduced in so many of the stories, its brutality, carnage, tragedy — yet, at times, nobility.

Powerful and memorable in this genre are 'Vengeance' by Jennifer Frost, where in the midst of battle, a young soldier espies a comrade who has committed an unforgivable act against his sister, so pursues what the title suggests, and 'A Drummer Boy at Waterloo'. This is written by Major Frank Clarke — one of three he has contributed.

His title suggests he is a man familiar with the sophisticated, lethal mayhem that is modern warfare; a reading of his story of a 15 year old drummer boy shows that he is also well aware of the stark, bloody attrition that was warfare in the nineteenth century.

A moving, mind concentrating piece of writing, it is centred on the defence by the valiant 'Thin Red Line' of British soldiers, of the Chateau D'Hougoumont and points to why the restoration of this iconic place has captured the imagination.

Another author who has contributed a trio of entries is Judith Arnopp — evocative, terrifying, mind concentrating tales, with none better than the chilling, yet moving, 'The Gardener's House'.

And, arguably, the finest piece of writing in the entire anthology is achieved by one of the younger contributors, Gabrielle Corry-Mead, with her 'My Horse for a Kingdom,' where the battle is viewed through the eyes of Napoleon's legendary horse, Marengo; it covers but two pages, but is inspired.

The problem in reviewing such an anthology as this is that space precludes detailed comment on each entry — though all are deserving of it as each story adds quality, interest and depth to the overall production.

'The Waterloo Collection' is powerful, moving, dramatic and erudite — a gripping book which should be bought and read not because of its involvement with 'Project Hougoumont', meritorious though it is, but because of its remarkable success in bringing to life in such vivid fashion, so much of the agony and ecstasy of this climactic event.

'The Waterloo Collection — An Anthology of Short Stories' (ISBN: 978-0-9567654-2-0) is published by Active Sprite at £11.99 and is available at Bookstop and leading booksellers.

Ted Sherrell